Nighttime work no longer inspected only during office hours

From now on, the social inspectorate will also carry out after-hours and weekend checks to track social fraud. “The transport companies do not stop work after 18:00, as do construction companies”, said Philippe De Backer, Secretary of State for the Fight Against Social Fraud (Open Vld) on Saturday in De Morgen and Het Laatste Nieuws. The measure is part of its fifty-point action plan against social fraud.

At the moment, the checks take place mainly during the week and during office hours, but this must change. “Because transport companies also work after 18:00 and on weekends”, said De Backer. “Construction companies that have deadlines to work also sometimes work longer, and the activity in the HoReCa basically starts at 18:00 and on weekends. Checks will be conducted in the HoReCa even after midnight.”

For construction, the Secretary of State is suggesting that 10% of the 2,400 checks will be carried out after 18:00 or on weekends this year.